UAE's first food bank opens in Dubai

Dubai: Dubai Municipality opened the UAE’s first Food Bank off Al Khail Road in Al Quoz this morning.

Hussain Nasser Lootah, director general of Dubai Municipality officially inaugurated the Food Bank that includes two refrigerated containers to store dry, packaged and canned foods donated from food companies.

Charities will collect these food items and distribute to the needy.

Lootah said some 30 such banks will be opened across the emirates.

Twenty food establishments including major hotel chains and hyper market groups signed the agreements to donate food.

Ten authorized charities that have partnered with the project will also directly collect ready to eat and perishable food donated by these food establishments.

Lootah also announced that the UAE Food Bank fridges will be placed in mosques, residential compounds and other public places from Ramadan.

“General public can donate surplus food through these fridges. They need to follow the food safety and hygiene guidelines,” he said.

Khalid Mohammad Sherif Al Awadhi, assistant director general at Dubai Municipality, said the plan is to place 100 Food Bank fridges across the country in the initial phases.

Announced by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in January, the UAE Food Bank project aims to reduce food wastage and feed people in need in the country and abroad.